When Sokov returned to the outside of the city and announced to the commanders and soldiers the order to rush to Sushinich immediately, his heart went crazy. He was deeply afraid that his comrades who had traveled for three days in a row would complain. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, everyone behaved very calmly, as if they were used to this kind of situation.
Seeing that no one complained or raised any objections, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then announced: "Comrades, time is running out, we will rush to Sushinich and set off now~"
More than a hundred people on sleds walked south for more than three hours, and a Soviet position appeared in front of them. Just as Sokov was thinking: Malinin only told me to get to Sushinich as soon as possible, but he did not explain where to set up defenses and who to report to. What should I do later?
While he was thinking wildly, Sokov suddenly saw a tent beside the road ahead, and a soldier standing guard outside the tent. Seeing the sled team approaching, he immediately turned around and stuck his head into the tent, as if reporting to someone inside. After a while, the curtain was raised, and three officers walked out. They stood on the roadside with their hands behind their backs, looking at the approaching sleigh team.
Sokov guessed that these officers might have come to pick him up, so he asked the driver to slow down, jumped off the sled, and ran towards the officers through the snow.
"Are you Captain Sokov?" Sokov came to the three officers. Before he could speak, one of the older majors spoke first: "I am the deputy of the 11th Guards Infantry Division. Chief of Staff, Major Vlasic, was ordered to wait for you here."
"Hello, Comrade Major. I am Sokov." After Sokov explained his identity, he asked the major tentatively: "How to arrange my troops?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Captain." Major Vlasic smiled and nuzzled at a second lieutenant next to him: "My adjutant will lead your soldiers into the trenches and bunkers of the starting position." Then he directed at him again. Another lieutenant said, "Comrade Lieutenant, Captain Sokov's troops have arrived. You should immediately take the soldiers of the communications company to help them lay telephone lines."
After explaining the work to his subordinates, Major Vlasic shook his head towards Sokov: "Let's go, Comrade Captain, come with me. The division commander is still waiting for you at the division headquarters."
Sokov followed the major down to a nearby traffic trench and strode forward. The soldiers they met along the way quickly stepped aside, leaned their backs against the trench wall, straightened their backs, and paid attention to the two men.
Entering the division headquarters, the major walked quickly to a general, raised his hand to salute him and said: "Comrade division commander, I have brought Captain Sokov!"
When Sokov heard the major address the general as division commander, he guessed that this person should be Major General Chernyshev, the commander of the 11th Guards Division, and quickly stepped forward. Just when he raised his hand to salute, he unexpectedly discovered that beside Chernyshev stood Major General Kazakov, the group army's artillery director. He couldn't help but hesitate, not knowing whether he should salute Kazakov first or pay tribute to Kazakov. Chernyshev salutes.
Kazakov noticed his difficulty and said with a smile: "Captain Sokov, you'd better report to Division Commander Chernyshev first."
Hearing what Kazakov said, Sokov quickly faced Chernyshev and said: "Comrade division commander, Captain Sokov, commander of the Istria Battalion, reports to you that our battalion has arrived at the designated position, and I am waiting for you. Order, please give instructions!"
"Comrade Captain, you came just in time." A delighted smile appeared on Chernyshev's face: "I was worried about the lack of troops in the division. Now that your battalion is here, we are more sure of seizing the city. Now. Comrade Captain, listen, your battalion’s mission is..."
After Sokov waited for the division commander to finish speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, can I ask how many troops we have to attack the enemies in Sushinich?"
"Comrade Captain, I don't intend to keep this matter a secret from you. Our attack will be carried out five days later, that is, at nine o'clock in the morning on January 29. Two infantry divisions will participate in the attack. Our division will be responsible for attacking the Soviet Union. Shinich's city is east of the city, while General Kiriukhin's 324th Infantry Division launched an attack from the northeast of the city." When Chernyshov said this, he turned his eyes to Kazakov aside: "Other than that In addition, there are also group army artillery to provide you with artillery support."
"That's right, before the attack, there will be an hour of artillery preparations." Kazakov said at this time: "As soon as the artillery fire stops, you must launch an attack immediately. From your starting position to the German position, there are four Kilometers, this distance is not short.”
When Kazakov said these words, Sokov secretly muttered in his heart: His impact distance was as long as four kilometers, and it would take at least half an hour to get close to the enemy's position. During such a long period of time, the Germans had probably recovered from the shelling and were ready in their positions. As soon as their troops approached the positions, they started shooting wildly, causing the officers and soldiers to fall in pieces like harvested rice. Down, blood flowed like a river in front of the position.
"Comrade Captain, since the mission has been clarified, you should return to the army immediately." Chernyshev waited for Kazakov to finish, and then said to Sokov in a businesslike tone: "Get familiar with the terrain of the combat area as soon as possible. , it will be very helpful for your next battle."
After Sokov returned to the camp, he took several company commanders to the first trench to observe the terrain. When he clearly saw the deployment of the German positions on the outskirts of the city through the binoculars, he couldn't help but gasped. He saw dense barbed wire like a spider web, wrapping the German positions. Moreover, there are gullies and minefields between the barbed wire fences. Even if the other side's German troops don't fire, it will take at least an hour for your own troops to pass through such areas.
Vanya, who was standing aside, said somewhat gloomily: "Comrade Battalion Commander, I have just seen the terrain. There are seven barbed wire fences on our offensive road. Behind these barbed wire fences, there are ravines and minefields. We want to Under the fire interception of the German army, passing through such a zone will inevitably result in huge casualties."
"Comrade Battalion Commander," Second Lieutenant Vasya, the engineer platoon leader, waited for Vanya to finish speaking and then took the initiative to ask Sokov: "Please allow me to enter this area after dark and open a passage for the infantry."
"Comrade Second Lieutenant, I will let you open the road, but don't worry now, the attack will not start until five days later." Sokov put down the telescope, turned around and shouted to Pavel who was standing not far away: "Bavel Corporal, come to our place."
As the deputy platoon leader of the guard platoon, Pavel was leading a guard squad to perform security work nearby. When he heard Sokov calling him, he quickly trotted to Sokov: "Comrade Battalion Commander, may I ask if you have any questions?" What instructions?"
Sokov pointed forward with his hand and said to Pavel: "Comrade Corporal, after dark, you take a few soldiers to perform a reconnaissance mission. I order you to understand the enemy's location within three days." Troop strength and deployment, do you understand?”
"Understood, Comrade Battalion Commander." Pavel nodded and said solemnly: "I will go back and make preparations. As soon as it gets dark, I will lead people to carry out the reconnaissance mission."
